Best (and Worst) Hip-Hop-themed video games of all time

This list was compiled based on video games that used hip-hop as the theme behind the game, whether it’s emceeing (rap), b-boying (breakdancing), graffiti art or DJing. So games like the Grand Theft Auto Series (San Andreas specifically was inspired by gang culture, not hip-hop) or True Crime weren’t considered since the basis of those games wasn’t hip-hop but more of crime stories that hip-hop has influenced.

I’ve compiled the best and worst hip-hop-themed video games, with an explanation, and a link to YouTube video examples. Not much to my methodology except, it’s my opinion based on how it represents hip-hop and how good of a game it is. But feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. Enjoy!

Best Hip-Hop-Themed Video Games of All Time

Def Jam Series (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007) – Def Jam fighting game series debuted in 2003 with Def Jam Vendetta, a wrestling game that featured playable hip-hop stars like DMX and Ludacris with a banging hip-hop soundtrack. In 2004’s Fight for NY, more rappers were added, like Snoop Dogg and Ice-T and the fighting moved to offer more than wrestling moves. Two years later, Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover was released for the PSP and played as a prequel to the events of Fight for NY. Def Jam: Icon was released for the new generation of consoles and featured a totally new fighting engine that some critics didn’t like. Still, the music (which is uncensored this time), the graphics, and characters are what made it worth the investment. New rappers like The Game, T.I., Young Jeezy and even Russell Simmons all are playable characters.

B-Boy (2006, 2008) – B-Boy received a lot of flack because of its control scheme and not much of a story to go a long with it, but it probably is the purest b-boying game ever made. The game, originally released in the U.K. for PSP in 2006 then in the US for PS2 this year, is setup more like a fighting game. You battle various b-boys in order to move up in the ranks. There are hundreds of different moves you can perform plus the soundtrack is unbelievable. Eric B & Rakim, Cypress Hill, James Brown, BT Express, Showbiz & AG, Jackson 5, The Beatnuts and countless others are featured on the in-game soundtrack. Yes, that’s how real they’re keeping it.

Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Under Pressure (2006) – Despite a mediocre reception from critics, Marc Ecko’s game is the purest graffiti video game ever made. The game actually gives you the experience of what’s it’s like to be an up and coming graffiti artist in huge cities where there’s hundreds of artists vying for fame. For those gamers who never tried to be a graf artist, it may be difficult to understand what Ecko was trying to do, but for those who have first-hand knowledge of that life, the game couldn’t be more in-tune with hip-hop culture.

Jet Grind Radio/Jet Set Future Radio (2000, 2002) – This was pretty much the first game that gave graffiti art a centerpiece in the game. The game play consists of you rollerblading around the city and tagging up spots to add them to your gang’s territory, while escaping from the law. While the soundtrack is mostly on some techno/electronic sound, the cel-shaded graphics were amazing for that era, and the graffiti art in the game is straight up old school hip-hop style.

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (1999) – The game may have been dissed by critics when it was released, but hardcore hip-hop and Wu-Tang fans loved the fighting game and the exclusive tracks. You could play as RZA, Method Man, Raekwon, GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Masta Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck or Ghostface Killah, with each of them having their own fighting style. Then when you were done playing the game, you could stick it in a CD player and listen to the soundtrack. That’s the way you make a hip-hop video game!

Get on Da Mic (2004) – Even though I can’t stand karaoke games, I have to give props to Get on the Mic for at least having a solid track list. Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli, DMX, Public Enemy, Pete Rock and CL Smooth and even freakin’ M.O.P.’s “Ante Up” is on the game. Impressive.

Flow: Urban Dance Uprising (2005) – Yes, the game is a Dance Dance Revolution for hip-hop heads, but it’s a pretty decent effort. The developer actually motion-captured real b-boys for the in-game animations and they did their hardest to get some real hip-hop music in there. Even though there’s a bunch of unknown artists (who is Troy Dunnit and Lex Stayl?), there’s a lot of familiar names and classic songs from Eric B. & Rakim, Das Efx, Sugar Hill Gang, Chuck D, Kurits Blow and the Jungles Brothers.

Break Street (1984) - This game was released at the peak of the break dancing phenomenon in the 80’s for the Commodore 64. Regardless of how cheesy the idea is, the developer did try to put some authentic moves in the game compared to another break dancing game released for the system (see below). Still, you have to give it up for the effort.


Worst Hip-Hop-Themed Video Games of All Time

Rap Jam: Vol. 1 (1995) – It’s a wannabe knockoff of NBA Jam but features rappers Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Coolio, Naughty By Nature, Yo-Yo, Public Enemy, Onyx, Warren G or Everlast. The game play was horrible, the graphics were horrible and to top it all off, the game didn’t even feature any of artists’ music! What a waste.

PaRappa the Rapper (1997) – Being the hip-hop purist that I am, I’ve always hated PaRappa the Rapper. I saw it as a stereotypical, exploitation of hip-hop that had no redeeming merits to the culture. Plus the story was just stupid. Anyone who grew up listening to hip-hop throughout the 80's and 90's knew that this was the wackest representation of hip-hop ever. But hey it was a success and the game play is the foundation to some of my favorite games today like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Still can't stand it though.

50 Cent: Bulletproof (2005) – Even though it was a success, selling one million copies and prompting a sequel to follow next year, it was a horrible game. The game felt rushed with a cheesy story and terrible game play with hardly any replay value. At least the hardcore 50 Cent fans got some exclusive tracks out of it and got to see Dr. Dre and Eminem make cameo appearances.

Break Dance(1984) – This game just wasn’t necessary. It’s like a memory game where you have mimic your dance partner’s moves and the moves are like that chick from the “Breakin” movies. It’s just cheesy 80’s pop star dancing and you can’t even really tell what moves they’re when they hit the ground. It was available on the Commodore 64 back in the day, and luckily, it’s long forgotten.

Shaq Fu (1994) – Often given the honor of being called the worst video game ever made, Shaq Fu was a marketing tool to further the Shaquille O’Neal brand and was an effort on trying to capitalize on the popularity of Mortal Kombat. Thing is, you couldn’t play as any other character Shaq, and he wasn’t a very good fighter either. How is this hip-hop? Shaq Fu was a name given to him by the rap group, Fu-Schnickens, when Shaq started to delve into his rap career.

Bust a Groove Series (1998, 1999) – This franchise is a rhythm/music game that billed itself as a hip-hop game but didn’t feature any in the game. Why do people think house and techno is hip-hop music? Anyway, the focus of the game is to hit the appropriate controls in time with the music, to make your character dance and fight their opponent. Boo.

Red Bull BC One (2008) – While the concept is cool, with the whole connect the dots to do cool moves, it’s a tarnish on the Red Bull BC One brand. For those unaware, just go to YouTube and do a search on Red Bull BC One. You’ll see that this Nintendo DS game is like nothing compared to the real tournament, and there isn’t even hip-hop music in the game! It’s just a huge disappointment.

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